Senators among 200 evacuated in hazardous-material scare

WASHINGTON Eight senators were among 200 people who were held in a Capitol parking garage tonight after a security sensor indicated the presence of a nerve agent in their office building. Later tests proved negative.

Test results have been cleared and all test results are negative, so that s very good news, said Capitol Police Sgt. Kimberly Schneider.

The all-clear came three hours after an air-monitoring sensor indicated a suspicious substance in the attic of the Russell Senate Office Building. It initially tested positive as a nerve agent.

Lawmakers, aides and other personnel were evacuated to the nearby West Legislative Garage shortly after 6:45 p.m. EST as police conducted several other tests before concluding that it was a false alarm.

We had this warning system work, said Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., one of those in the garage. People in the building followed the directions promptly. There was no panic, no running, no upset or anything like that.